Dr. Dwight McKenna has tried for years to edge his way back into public office.

On Saturday, he got pretty close.

McKenna, 72, a former Orleans Parish School Board member who served nine months in federal prison for felony tax evasion, won a spot in the March 15 runoff for Orleans Parish Coroner in a three-way race.

He will face Dr. Jeffrey Rouse, 39, a forensic psychiatrist who has worked in the mental health division of the coroner's office since 2002. Rouse is making his first bid for elected office.

Both candidates have been campaigning on a vow to bring reform and transparency to the office.

Minyard, 84, qualified to run as an incumbent again this year, but bowed out in late December, throwing his support instead behind Rouse.

Rouse comes to the table with a host of specific ideas to change the way the office functions, including mandatory videotaping of autopsies, requiring independent monitoring of all in-custody death investigations and digitizing investigation reports in a format accessible online to the families of the deceased.

Rouse also favors raising out-of-parish autopsy fees to increase revenue to the office, hire more staff and keep the office open more regular hours.

Dr. Vincent "Van" Culotta drew up the rear in Saturday's election. Culotta is an obstetrician and gynecologist who has just completed a term as president of the Louisiana State Medical Society.

The person who becomes coroner will draw an annual salary of $100,000 a year, inherit a budget of about $1.7 million, and will be responsible for signing off on all final determinations of death in the approximately 1,500 death investigations annually.

The winner who takes office April 1 will also have influence over the construction of a long-awaited new facility at Earhart Boulevard and South Claiborne Avenue. Ground was broken at the site last year but the project has been slow moving. The office currently resides in a cramped former funeral home, closes at 3 p.m. daily and houses bodies in refrigerated trucks out back.